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Take a Course

The Association of British Cycling Coaches runs a correspondence course which will qualify you as a Coach in UK. Alternatively you may just wish to take the course to give you the knowledge to race faster. This course has been continually refined over 30 years and has just been completely rewritten so that it is absolutely up to the minute. It has been updated by coaches who currently coach riders to both national and world level and all of the examiners are of similar calibre.

Table of Contents

The Coaching Scheme and Coaching Awards
  • Objectives of the Scheme
  • Grades of Coach
  • Terms of Reference
  • Registration
  • Insurance
  • Examination Procedure
  • Preliminary Coach
  • Coach
  • Senior Coach
  • Leaders' Certificate
  • How to Study
Module 1
Anatomy and Physiology
  • Bone, Cartilage and Tendon
  • The Skeleton
  • The Body's systems: muscular, nervous, cardio-vascular, respiratory, digestive
  • The Basis of Training
  • Basic Exercise Physiology
  • Training Principles
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper

Module 2

  • Basic Fitness Training
  • Basic Circuit Training
  • Weight Training for Cycling
  • Running for Cyclists
  • Flexibility Exercises
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper

Module 3

  • Road Training, individual and group methods
  • Training Levels and Heart Rate Monitors
  • Four and Six Levels of Training
  • Perception of Exertion: the Borg Scale
  • Track Coaching
  • Time-trialling
  • Cyclo-Cross Training, including event, rider and coach profiling by example
  • Mountain Bike Training
  • Special Considerations for the growing child, women, veterans, and the disabled
  • Fitness Testing
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper
Module 4
  • Race Tactics
  • Preparation of Individual Training Schedules, including periodisation
  • Training Diaries
  • Tapering for a Key Competition
  • Nutrition
  • Overtraining
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper

 

Module 5

  • Mental Preparation
  • Self-Concept
  • Goal-setting
  • Anxiety and arousal
  • Visualisation and Imagery
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper

 

Module 6

  • Position on the Bike
  • Choice of Equipment
  • Choice and Use of Gears
  • Maintenance of Equipment.
  • Body Care and Hygiene
  • Clothing for Training and Racing
  • Coaching and Teaching Techniques
  • First-Aid
  • Further Reading
  • Examination Paper

To enrol on the course and receive the new ABCC Coaching Manual please send your name and address together with a cheque made payable to "ABCC" in pounds sterling.

    If you live in UK please send £150 (150 pounds sterling)
    If you live outside UK please send £180 (180 pounds sterling)

To Jim Sampson, 19 Forbes Avenue, Beverley High Rd, Hull HU6 7AJ, UK, jim@jsampson.karoo.co.uk

If you wish to become an ABCC Coach on satisfactory completion of the course, Jim will send you an enrolment form which must be completed for that purpose.

If you just want to go faster you can complete the course or not, as you wish, but by completing the course you will get expert comment on your answers from the examiners.